Stenciling apparatus



Nov. 9, 1937.

F. B. MOQUISTON ET AL 2,098,588

STENC ILING APPARATUS Filed Jui 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS BY M 6 Ma ATTORNEYS Nov. 9, 1937. F. B. McQulsToN m AL 2,098,588

STENCILING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 51 lllfllmlllll llll nnmmm ii "W 66 8 59 F i g! I8 6' 69 6 GI TTORNEY8 Patented Nov. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFICE STENCILING APPARATUS Frederick B. McQuiston, Grafton, and Ernest M. I Hommel, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to The 0. Hommel Company, a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania .Application July 9, 1936, Serial No. 89,742

14 Claims. (Cl. 101-125) Our invention relates to stenciling apparatus, and consists in' improvements and refinements of the apparatus described in our co-pending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 41,904,

filed September 24, 1935, now Patent No. 2,054,435,

dated September 15, 1936.

As mentioned in said patent, we are concerned with the surface ornamentation of tumblers, bottles, jars, and other objects of circular cross section, and our apparatus is particularly, although not exclusively, intended for use in applying characters or designed decorations of vitreous color material upon such objects of glass, to the end that the objects may be fired and in known manner the color material vitrified and fused in the surface of the glass.

The apparatus includes a flexible stencil sheet, impervious in main and pervious in pattern, drawn taut and supported an interval above and in parallelism with a surface that bears acoating or film of decorating material. The object to be decorated is rolled across the upper face of the stencil, and, under the pressure of the object, the flexible stencil is caused to yield from the plane of its expanse downward, and into contact with the film-bearing surface beneath. The decorating material is exuded through so much of the stencil as is pervious and upon the surface of 0 the rolling object.

As already 'mentioned, the invention consists in refinements and elaborations, and, upon remarking that our improved apparatus embodies features which will prove valuable in decorating 35 round objects of various sorts, we shall describe an embodiment of the invention in apparatus for decorating drinking glasses or tumblers whose circular side .walls taper from top to bottom.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a view 40 in side elevation of the apparatus, with a particular cam element appearing in vertical section; Fig. II is a view of the apparatus in plan from above; Fig. III is a diagrammatic view, showing particular elements of the apparatus to larger 45 scale and on the planes indicated at III-,-III in Fig. I; and Fig. IV is a view in side elevation and to still larger scale of one of the object-supportihg devices of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, our apparatus includes an endless band I, trained over four rollers 2, 3, 4, and 5. In this case, the band extends between the rollers 2 and 3 horizontally, and is supported and reinforced from beneath, by means of a rigidly mounted platen 6, cf. Fig. III. And

above the upper, horizontal reach of the band, a

flexible stencil sheet 1 is supported on the frame or bed B of the machine.

The structure of the stencil sheet is fully described in Letters Patent No. 2,011,363, granted to Ernest M. Hommel on August 13, 1935, and suflice it herein to say: first, the sheet is impervious in main and pervious in the pattern of the characters or decoration to beapplied to the drinking glasses '(Fig. II shows the stencil provided with an open-Work pattern P) second, the flexible stencil is drawn taut and secured to a frame 8; and third, the frame 8 supports the stencil in parallelism with and an interval above the area of the band I lying upon the platen 6. A film of decorating material is automatically applied to the outer surface of the band I, and the band is advanced intermittently to carry the applied film into position beneath the open-work pattern of the stencil.

The glass objects G to be decorated are successively brought to bear upon the upper face of the stencil sheet, and rolled across the openwork pattern P provided therein. Under the pressure of each rolling object, the stencil sheet is caused to yield downward from the normal plane fla, Fig. III) of itsexpanse and into contact with the film-bearing surface of the band beneath. The line of contact of the stencil with the band advances with the rolling object, and the decorating material is squeezed through the openwork pattern P, and is progressively applied to the surfaceof the object. There is no slipping between the surface of the object and the stencil, nor smearing of the decorating material over the upper face of the stencil; the rolling object, upon traversing the pattern area of the stencil, is provided with a decoration in the clean outline of the pattern P.

The machine includes a work-carrier which consists in a turn-table 9 secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft l0, and carrying a pinrality o1 work-supporting devices 45. In this case two of such devices are provided.

The shaft I0 is trunnioned in a sliding head l2 secured, by bolts l2a, upon the bed B of the machine, and a bevel-gear H is secured to the lower,

projecting end of the shaft, as shown in Fig. I.

A bevel-pinion Ila, meshing with gear ll, is feathered upon a horizontal counter-shaft 28, and an electric motor I3 is arranged to drive the counter-shaft at suitable speed through a gearbox 26; Thus, the turn-table is rotated, and the glass objects introduced to supporting devices 45 are moved through a circular path a, as illust ated in Fig. II.

As already mentioned, the objects to be decorated in this case are drinking glasses or tumblers whose side walls taper from top to bottom, and it will be understood that each tumbler G comprises the frustum of a cone. In accordance with our invention,'the work-carrier 9, 45 is adjustable relatively to the stencil sheet 1, in such manner that the center of the circular path a, through which the tumblers G are moved, that is, the axis of shaft H), as viewed in plan from above the machine, is caused to register precisely with the apex of the cone of which the object comprises a frustum. in Fig. II are illustrative of the cone of which tumbler G is a frustum.) Thus, each tumbler advancing through the circular path a rolls on its side over the face of the stencil sheet 1, and the line of contact of the tumbler with the stencil extends radially of shaft i0. As the'tumbler so rolls, the line of contact between tumbler and stencil moves angularly about the axis of such shaft as a center, whereby the rolling engagement between the stencil sheet and the tumbler is a perfect rolling engagement at all points longitudinally of such line of contact.

In effecting the adjustment of the work-carrier 9, 45 relatively to the stencil, the bolts l2a are loosened, and the head I2 is slid longitudinally of the supporting bed B, the bolts |2a moving along slots |2b that are provided in known way in the bed. A stirrup 21 (Fig. I), engaging the shaft In with running fit, extends downward and embraces the bevel-pinion Ila splined to counter-shaft 28, and, by virtue of such means, the bevel-pinion is caused to slide longitudinally of the counter-shaft, and to remain in mesh with the gear ll, during the adjustment of the workcarrier upon the bed B. When the work-carrier is properly adjusted, with the axis of shaft II] in registry with the apex of the cone 0 of the tumblers to be decorated, the bolts |2a are tightened. The work-carrier is ready for immediate service,

without the necessity of adjusting gears and other pin |5a secured in a bracket l5 which is integrated with the table. The distal end of the arm carries an inverted yoke 15, in which the tumblers are immediately engaged, and a branch 96 extends upward and outward from the arm and provides support for a roller H. The arm I4 extends through a vertically reciprocable stirrup 46 which, by means of a spring 41, tends to sustain the arm with its distal end raised, in the position indicated at the right of Fig. I, and with the stirrup held by spring tension against the nether face of a rigid lug 49 projecting from bracket l5. Referring particularly to Figs. III and IV, the yoke 15 includes a basal bar I 8, and two legs I 8a and IN}. The bar l8 extends between two parallel plates 50 which are secured to the end of arm I 4, and interconnected by means of rigid crossmembers 5|; between the plates 50 a fulcrum element 52, backed by a spring 53, bears upon the medial portion of bar l8 from above; a pair of headed stems 54, rig'id with the bar, extend upward between plates 50 and severally through slots 55 in cross-members 5|; and a compression spring 56 is arranged on each stem, bearing against the cross-members 5| from below and severally urging the heads of the stems against the cross-members from above. Thus, the basal bar of the yoke 15, as so supported between the (The broken lines 0 plates 50, is movable angularly within a small range about the fulcrum element 52, and is movable vertically against the tension of spring 53. And in either of such permissive movements, it will be observed that the plates 5|] serve to maintain the bar l8 (as viewed in plan from above) in alignment with the arm N that extends radially of the turn-table 9.

The leg I So of the yoke 15 is rigidly secured in adjusted position on the basal bar l8, while the opposite leg I8!) is adapted to swing, on a pivot 20, about such basal bar. A conical block 2| is mounted'on a rotary spindle 22 carried by the foot of leg I81), and anti-friction bearings may be employed in the known way, to insure that the block shall be delicately sensitive to rotative stress. And in like manner a rotary knob 24 is secured in the foot of leg I811. The tumbler to be decorated is seated upon the conical block 2 I, as shown at G in Fig. IV, and a pair of springs 25, effective between the basal bar of the yoke and the leg l8b, tends to swing such leg counterclockwise, with the consequence and efiect that the bottom of the mounted tumbler G is held against the rotary knob 24. The axes of knob 24 and block 2| extend in alignment and parallel to the arm I4, and, manifestly, when the arm in the course of its rotation crosses the stencil sheet I, the supported tumbler rolls freely over the face of the stencil in the manner already described. In introducing a tumbler to the apparatus, the attendant swings the leg |8b upward into work-receiving position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. IV, the springs 25 at first resisting and ultimately aiding rotation about pivot 20. In such work-receiving position of the leg I 8b, the attendant readily slips the tumbler 'to be decorated into position upon the conical block 2|. The leg |8b is then swung back into its normal position, and the tumbler is 'by springs 25 held in the position shown in Fig. IV, ready to be carried across the face of the stencil. It may be remarked that a plurality of rubber strips 2|a are embodied in the block 2|, with the presented edges of the strips lying an interval outward from the face of the block. These strips, rather than the side face of the block, engage the inner surface of the installed tumbler, and, accordingly, the wall of the tumbler is engaged on lines, rather than on an extended area, of contact. In this way, the objectionable tendency for the tumbler to become too tightly wedged upon the conical block is eliminated.

In service the attendant stands in the station A, indicated in Fig. II, and, as each of the continuously rotating arms I4 advances from a position above the stencil sheet towards him, he removes the decorated tumbler and introduces in its place a tumbler to be decorated. An arcuate cam-rail I6 is mounted above the stencil sheet 1; two rigid posts is and arms 23 afford the mounting, and the posts are horizontally adjustable on the bed B of the machine, while the arms 23 are vertically adjustable on the posts. Each worksupporting device carries the installed tumbler G clockwise in the circular path a, from the station A to a position above the stencil sheet, and during such advance the stirrup 46 (under the urging of spring 41) yieldingly sustains the arm l4 in such position that the tumbler is supported an interval 1 (Fig. 1) above the face'of the stencil sheet. As the supported tumbler moving through path a approaches a position above the stencil sheet, the roller I'I enters engagement with a downwardly curved portion I50 of the cam-rail.

aoaasea stencil sheet interposed between. In such manner a decoration of color material is applied in desired pattern. By virtue of the yielding and fulcrumed mounting of the tumbler-supported yoke 15 at the end of arm it, the advancing I tumbler, moved positively downward by the camrail I6, adjusts itself to the face of the stencil, to.

make accommodation for any inaccuracy in the adjustment of the machine, and, during. the rolling advance of the tumbler across the stencil sheet, the springs 53, 54 yield, to compensate for such irregularities as may exist in the surface'of the tumbler.

When the rolling tumbler has traversed the pervious area of the stencilfthe roller I'I moves under the influence of the spring-backed stirrup 46 (Fig. I), up an inclined portion fi e (Fig. III) in the cam-rail. The decorated tumbler is thus raised from the stencil. and upon moving to, station A, the attendant removes the tumbler and installs an undecorated one in its place. Thus, the machine is adapted successively to apply decorations upon the tumblers G.

In each interval between the successive'engage merits of the tumblers with the stencil sheet, the endless band i is caused automatically to advance through such interval that a fresh or new expanse of the applied film of color material is carried into position beneath the stencil sheet.

The means for effecting the intermittent advances of the band consist in a system of gears, sprocket-chains, and a clutch arranged within housings 28 and 2611. Such means are fully descr bed in our above-noted patent, and furtherconsideration of them is deemed needless. Sufilce it to say that the turn-table is rotated continuously; the installed objects G are rolled successively across the stencil sheet; and the band I is advanced in the intervals between the successive engagements of the objects with the sheet.

Additionally, the particular mechan sm for applying the decorating material upon the band is fully described incur said patent, and, in the drawings of this case. we diagrammatically illustrate such mechanism by means of a roll 43. It will be understood that, as the band is intermittently moved past the roll decorating material is applied. Above the roll 43, we provide means for spreading and smoothing the applied color material, to the end that a thin film E of uniform thickness and consistency shall be provided. Such means consist in a spreader 50, as shown in outline in Fig. II and in sectional detail in Fig. III.- The spreader includes a flexible strip 59 of rubber, secured in a rigid block 60; the block 60 is secured in a yoke 61 which is pivotally supported on a shaft 62 mounted in astationary frame portion 83 of the machine; and a finger 65, articulated to the frame portion 63, at 88, bears upon the yoke 8| from above,,and presses the forward edge of the flexible strip 59 against the face of the band I. The applied color material, carried by the traveling band beneath the edge of strip 59, is spread and smoothed, forming the desired uniform and thin film. A torsion spring 84 opposes the pressure of finger 65 upon the yoke 8i a screw 61 is secured at one end in a ball-and-socket .joint 88 to the frame portion 83, and passes through a portion 69 with'which the finger is rigidly integrated. Rotation of the screw 61 in one direction or the other swings the finger 65 either upward or downward about center 66. Such means provide for the an ular adjustment of the spreader device about shaft 62, whereby the pressure of the resilient spreader strip 59 against the face of band i may be regulated as need be, to provide the desired spreading and smoothing 6f the applied color material.

The color material employed in the decoration of glass-ware is a moist, thick and tacky mixture of known sort, and great dimculty has been ex- ;perienced in providing means of suitable physical properties forsupporting a film of such material beneath the stencil sheet; We have discovered that the band i may be advantageously construct- 'rubber, which is to receive the applied colormaterial, is smooth and moisture-proof; the rubber is of substantial elasticity and desirably is a solid rubber, as distinguished from sponge rubber; or, if it be a sponge rubber, it is provided with an impervious vulcanized skin. A film-carrier of this structure gives good results in service, and may be readily and thoroughly cleansed, whereby one and the same band may be used in the machine when the color material is changed, to meet color specifications of different designs and decorations.

We claim as our invention:

1. Stencilingapparatus including a stencil'impervious in main and pervious in pattern, means adapted to present an extended surface adjacent to the pattern area. of said stencil a film of moist decorating material, said means comprising a body of elastic material having a'film-bearing surface impervious to said moist decorating material, means for applying said material upon such surface, means for spreading and smoothing the applied material to provide uniformity in the applied film, a rotary work-carrier, said work-carrier including means yieldingly sustained for rotatably supporting a round object to be decorated, means for rotating said work-carrier whereby said object is-rolled in arcuate path across the pattern area of said stencil, and an arcuate cam mounted in spaced relation with re spect to said stencil and adapted to engage said object-supporting means, whereby, during the rojest-supporting means consists in an arm pivotally connected to said carrier and carrying a roller for engagement with said cam, said arm supporting two object-engagingmembers relatively movable for introduction of an object and adapted to yield in unison in response to the ed of flexible or elastic material, having a smooth surface and being impervious to the moist said , the pattern area of said stencil.

5. A device for supporting a round object in decorating apparatus, said device including two axially aligned members between which the object is secured, said members being relatively movable to admit of the release and introduction of objects, means for supporting said members, and yielding means adapted to admit of automatic adjustment of said supporting members in response to working pressure against the supported object. I

6. A device for supporting an object to be decorated, said device including two object-engaging members relatively movable for the introduction and release of the work, said members being movable in unison in work-securing position in response to working pressure against the supported object. A

7. Means for supporting an object to be decorated, said means including a rotary carrier, a radial support angularly movable on said carrier, two object-engaging members carried by said support, said members being relatively movable for the introduction and release of the work, said members being adapted to yield angularly of said radial support in response to working pressure against the supportedobject.

8. A device for-supporting an object to be decor rated, said device including a yoke for the support of said object, and yielding means supporting said yoke.

9. In stenciling apparatus including a stencil impervious, in main and pervious in pattern, means adapted to present on an extended surface adjacent to the pattern area of said stencil a film of decorating material, a rotary work-carrier for advancing said object arcuately and in rolling engagement with said stencil, and a cam mounted above said stencil and adapted to engage said object-supporting means from above, whereby, during the rotation of said work-carrier, said object-supporting means are positively shifted transversely of the path of object advance.

10. In stenclling apparatus including a stencil impervious in main and pervious in pattern, an endless bandadapted to present on an extended surface adjacent to the pattern area'of said stencil a film of decorating material, and means for effecting the advance of said band; the combination of means for applying saidfilm of decorating material upon said band, and means effective during the advance of the band for spreading and smoothing the applied film.

a thin-uniform film of decorating material; the

combination of means for applying said decorating material upon said member, means for effecting movement of such member relatively'to said film-applying means, and means effective during such relative movement for spreading and smoothing the applied material to provide said film.

12. Stenciling apparatus including a stencil impervious in main and pervious in pattern, and a member adapted to present on an extended surface adjacent to the pattern area of said stencil a film of moist decorating material, said member comprising an elastic body whose film-bearing surface is impervious to said moist material, and means for spreading a smooth film of such decorating material upon said impervious surface.

13. Stenciling apparatus including a stencil impervious in main and pervious in pattern, and a member adapted to present on an extended surface adjacentto the pattern area of said stencil a film of moist decorating material, said member comprising a reinforced flexible body of rubber whose film-bearing surface is impervious to said moist material, and means for applying said film.

14. Stenciling apparatus including a stencil impervious in main and pervious in pattern, an endless, flexible band adapted to present on an extended surface adjacent to the pattern area of said stencil a film ofmoist decorating material,

said band constructed of reinforced elastic mate-t rial having a surface imperious to said moist material, means for eifecting travel of the band relatively to the stencil, and means for progressively applying said film.

, FREDERICK B. McQUIS'ION.

ERNEST M. HOMMEL. 

